The romantic Beggar's Bridge, a beautiful arched structure across the River Esk, has a telling inscription. It suggests that it was built in 1619 by 'TF': Thomas Ferries, the son of a local farmer.

Thomas used to ford the river to meet his young sweetheart, Agnes, the daughter of a wealthy squire. Her father thought Thomas too poor for his daughter and disapproved. Determined to seek his fortune at sea, he set sail from Whitby. Though on the day he departed Glaisdale, the Esk was in spate and he was unable to kiss Agnes goodbye.

When he returned years later as a wealthy man, Thomas married Agnes and built this bridge in tribute to her and so that no future lovers would be separated by the river. Today, the bridge is Grade II-listed.

Theo

August 13, 2022

The bridge is listed Grade II* for its historic interest.

Cornelia Fuchs

May 2, 2024

In 1619, a packhorse bridge called Beggar’s Bridge was constructed over the River Esk by Thomas Ferris, the son of a local moorland sheep farmer. The bridge’s history is intertwined with a romantic legend about Thomas and his sweetheart, Agnes Richardson. Allegedly, Thomas used to wade through the river to meet Agnes secretly since her father disapproved of their relationship due to Thomas’s lack of wealth.

Thomas sought his fortune on the high seas to win her father’s approval. However, on the eve of his departure, he could not cross the river to bid farewell to his beloved due to the river’s flood. Thomas swore an oath that he would build a bridge in that very spot one day. Years later, having returned to Glaisdale, a wealthy man and married Agnes, Thomas fulfilled his promise by constructing Beggar’s Bridge.

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Elevation 120 m

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Wednesday 17 December

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Location: Egton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

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